Protect Your Dog From Worms - Important to Know

Okay.  This is not the most hip and trendy topic on a pet blog, but definitely an important one and what I see as necessary to address.   Thank you David Gargan for being my Guest Author today.  (The words in italics are mine, by the way. Thank you David for letting me indulge)

One of the most common health problems our dogs have is worms. Worms can make your dog very unwell for a variety of reasons depending on the type of worms. Pet owners need to start realising the seriousness of worms and start worming their dogs on a more regular basis. By doing this you can prevent worms and pain for your dog. I find that the best way to ensure your dog eats their worming tablet is to put it in with their dog food at feeding time.

+ Pups less than 12 weeks should be wormed every 2 weeks

+ Pups 12 weeks to 6 months wormed every month

+ Dogs older than 6 months should be wormed every 1 to 3 months depending on the climate and location of where you live.

 

 5 Main Types Of Worms  (Who got the cool job of naming them?)

 #1 Roundworms

This is the number one most common type of worm and they live in the stomach and intestines of the dog. Puppies can get roundworm from their mother before and after birth through their mothers milk. Dogs can easily digest the worm by eating something contaminated.

 #2 Heartworms

These worms travel through the bloodstream into the heart and lungs and can cause serious discomfort and make the dog very unhealthy.

 #3 Tapeworms

This worm attaches itself to the wall of the small intestine. These are most common spread through fleas.  (Fleas are just bad news all around)

 #4 Hookworms

These small thin worms use their hook like mouth to latch onto the dogs small intestine and lives off the dogs tissue and blood.  (kind of like that 30-something kid in a parents basement)

 #5 Whipworms

Just like a tapeworm this worm attaches itself to the wall of the small and large intestines.

10 Symptoms Of Worms

 #1 Coughing – Roundworms, Hookworms and Heartworms

 #2 Diarrhea – All worms & Blood may be visable in stool

 #3 Weight Loss – Tapeworm & Whipworm

 #4 Pot Belly – Puppies who get worms from mother

 #5 Gain/Loss of Appetite – All worms

 #6 Vomiting – All worms & blood may be visable in vomit

 #7 Lethargy – All worms can affect energy levels

 #8 Scooting – Cause dog to scoot on rear end to relieve an itch (aka Carpet Surfing)

 #9 Scratching – Visible skin irritations 

 #10 Poor Coat – Dogs coat becomes dull

It is important for every dog owner to worm your dog within the recommended guidelines. At least this way your dog can be 100% healthy and live a great life. The last thing you want is for your dog to be suffering and you not being able to help. Worming tablets are readily available from your local vet or from any online pet shop. Help combat worms today by worming your dog regularly.

Thank you David for this valuable information!

And to lighten things up, after seeing the words vomit, stool, diarrhea, blood and intestines all in one blog post, why not try your hand at learning to draw a cartoon worm!  

 

Comments

[PetStreetMall.com]

Thanks for the comprehensive info about worms,i was about to deworm my 3 year old golden retriever because he losses appetite and i notice that he got a big tummy, i guess he got some worms. Such a great info!

[Jackson]

Thanks for this post. I am a Vet Tech and I cannot tell you how many people underestimate the threat of worms. I work at a clinic in rural Indiana, and heartworms are the number 1 worm/health issue we see with our dogs. Heartworm meds are not that expensive, and prevention will always be cheaper than ongoing treatment, and far less traumatic than the death of a pet. Heartworms, unlike other worms, can (and do) kill. Don't take chances. Invest in pet insurance and worm-med your four legged bundle of joy. Their health is actually cheaper to maintain in the long run.